Pumpkin Dessert Squares

Last week, Davidson freshmen ran the Cake Race – a Davidson tradition that dates back to 1930. According to an article in the November 13, 1930 issue of The Davidsonian, “It is intended that the first cake race held this year will set a precedent for future Freshman classes, and that in the future it will become an annual and looked forward to event in the yearly routine of the Freshman classes.”

The first cake race also saw the setting of "a new college cake race record," naturally.
The first cake race also saw the setting of “a new college cake race record,” naturally.

Track coach Heath “Pete” Whittle (Class of 1930) is responsible for beginning the Cake Race at Davidson when he began working in the athletics department in 1930. Whittle would stay in charge of the track team and serve as an Assistant Director of Athletics until 1971. The purpose was for Whittle to scout new running talent for the track team, and the cakes were the motivation for then mandatory race. Cakes baked by faculty spouses and townswomen were not the only prizes – students could also claim a number of items donated by local businesses.

Cakes are solicited from College employees and townspeople alike, as this 1990 memo shows.
Cakes are solicited from College employees and townspeople alike, as this 1990 memo shows. I heeded the helpful hint to use a disposable container for my cake.

Now the Cake Race is a voluntary event, with a fixed distance of 1.7 miles. The race wasn’t held in 1931-1933, 1941-1949, or 1972, as interest seemed to have waned, but upperclassmen insisted on the return of the race the following year and the 1.7 mile rite of passage has remained ever since. Sterling Martin (Class of 1963), a former winner of the Cake Race and organizer of the event from 1972 until the mid-1990s, said “The upperclassmen had a fit… they said they had to go through it, so they wanted to see everybody else run it. The next year we reinstated the race.” (Davidson Journal, Fall/Winter 1987) A few other colleges and universities have held cake races, and Georgia Tech’s also seems to have been tied to scouting new runners for the track and cross country teams, but it isn’t known whether Whittle was inspired by cake races at other institutions.

Sterling Martin selects a cake as his prize for winning the 1959 cake race.
Sterling Martin selects a cake as his prize for winning the 1959 cake race.
A group of freshmen women in the class of 1989 pose with their hard-earned cakes, August 1985.
A group of freshmen women in the class of 1989 pose with their hard-earned cakes, August 1985.

When Daisy Southerland married Pete Whittle in 1933, she too joined the Cake Race tradition. Daisy Whittle (1906-1991) hailed from Mobile, Alabama, and worked as the Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, prior to moving to Davidson. Once established in town, Daisy ran a nursery school out of the Whittle family home, was active in the Davidson College Presbyterian Church, and made cakes for every class of freshmen until at least 1987. Although Pete Whittle passed away in 1975, Daisy continued attending the annual Cake Race and was active in the Davidson Senior Center.

Daisy Whittle presents a cake to a winning racer in 1963.
Daisy Whittle presents a cake to a winning racer in 1963.

As Daisy described in the Davidson Journal Fall/Winter 1987 issue, “I don’t think I’ve ever missed a race… I’ve made cakes every year, and my daughters helped when they were in high school. The cakes were usually chocolate, because that’s my favorite.” This year, to honor Daisy’s legacy and celebrate a new class of Davidson freshmen, I selected one of her recipes to make for the 2016 Cake Race and for this installment of our Recipes From the Archives blog series. Unfortunately, we don’t have any of her chocolate cake recipes in our collections, but Daisy did submit a recipe for Pumpkin Dessert Squares to the Davidson Senior Center’s 1985 printing of The Davidson Cookbook.

Daisy Whittle's Senior Center portrait, taken by Frank Bliss.
Daisy Whittle’s Senior Center portrait, taken by Frank Bliss circa 1980.

As the Davidson Journal‘s Fall/Winter 1987 issue states, “there are several competitions going on here – one involving the 140 freshmen running the 1.7-mile race, and another fiercer contest among the cake bakers waiting and watching to see whose cake will be picked first.” Daisy Whittle’s cakes have long been picked early in the selection process – racers are given place cards as they cross the finish line, and select cakes by that placement, alternating between men and women winners. Utensils are handed out, so cake eating can begin right away.

Daisy Whittle's recipe
The Pumpkin Dessert Squares I made for this year’s Cake Race.

I followed Daisy’s recipe to the letter, with the exception of cutting the cake into squares and serving with whipped cream. I assumed the whipped cream wouldn’t hold up in the August heat of North Carolina, as cakes are placed outside an hour or so before the race begins. Instead I sprinkled a little bit of powdered sugar on top of the cake, and constructed a festive, inedible banner topping in order to make the cake more appealing to the runners.

Some this year's cake spread - one photograph can't capture all of the cakes!
Some this year’s cake spread – one photograph can’t capture all of the cakes!
My version of Daisy's Pumpkin Dessert, with "Welcome Wildcats" banner topper!
My version of Daisy’s Pumpkin Dessert, with “Welcome Wildcats” banner topper!

As Alex Hunger (Class of 2009) said in a 2005 Charlotte Observer article on the Cake Race, “I’ve never had to work this hard for a cake… running for (cake) definitely makes it more worth eating.” I hope all of the members of the Class of 2020 enjoyed their cake-filled welcome to Davidson!

Santas of Davidson Past

Classes are out for the semester, and E.H. Little Library is closed until January 2nd, but not being in the building won’t stop us from sharing some historic Davidson holiday cheer! Since today is Christmas Eve, here’s a post of my favorite Santa-related images from our collections:

The Davidson College Wildcat mascot as Santa, 1986.
The Davidson College Wildcat mascot as Santa, 1986.
A Santa and a skeleton from an unknown play., 1967.
A Santa and a skeleton from an unknown play, 1967.
The Admissions Department Christmas card, taken outside Chambers Building, 1987.
The Admission and Financial Aid Department Christmas card, taken outside Chambers Building, 1987.
A message to Santa, written on a door inside of Alumni Gymnasium (built 1916, remodeled into the Ovens Student Union in 1952, and demolished in 1972 to make space for E.H. Little Library).
A message to Santa, written on a door inside of Alumni Gymnasium (built 1916, remodeled into the Ovens Student Union in 1952, and demolished in 1972 to make space for E.H. Little Library).
Part of our mystery photo parcel, this scary Santa dates from winter 1960-1961.
Part of our mystery photo parcel, this scary Santa dates from winter 1960-1961.
Cover of the Winter 1950 edition of Scripts 'N Pranks, depicting a freshman student (Class of 1954) wearing the traditional beanie, telling Santa what he would like to get this year.
Cover of the Winter 1950 edition of Scripts ‘N Pranks, depicting a student (Class of 1954) wearing the traditional freshman beanie, telling Santa what he would like to get this year.
Two unknown students wear Santa hats and holidays pins while in the College Union, 1991.
Two unknown students wear Santa hats and holidays pins while in the College Union, 1991.
E.H. Little Library staff's annual holiday gathering - this picture, which includes current library staff (Susan Kerr, ) dates from the mid to late 1990s and was taken in front of Beaver Dam.
E.H. Little Library staff’s annual holiday gathering – this picture, which includes current library staff (Susan Kerr, Michael Forney, Denise Sherrill, Trish Johnson, Joe Gutekanst, Alice Sloop, Denise Torrence, Mittie Wally, Kim Sanderson, and Around the D’s own Jan Blodgett and Sharon Byrd), dates from the late 1990s and was taken in front of Beaver Dam. The man in the Santa hat is Frank Molinek, a library employee from 1992 until 2006.

We hope you enjoyed our Santas of Davidson Past! Have a great winter break, and happy holidays!

“For Hygienic and Other Reasons”: Looking Back at the College’s Laundry Service

Early last month, Davidson made news for the College’s decision to transition to self-service laundry. Prior to the opening of the College Laundry in 1920, students patronized African-American laundresses in the area, or paid fees to those fellow students who facilitated laundry deliveries to Charlotte. One early student who had his laundry done locally was future United States President Woodrow Wilson, as he records in a notebook used during the 1873 – 1874 academic year:

Detailed laundry charges
Detailed laundry charges for Wilson’s first few months at Davidson.

As early as 1911, the College’s Board of Trustees wanted to establish a College Laundry, in order to promote “the comfort, convenience, and health of the student body and Faculty and their families.” However, financial considerations made the project impossible until the 1920-1921 academic year.

Students holding laundry bags - possibly as part of an entrepreneurial scheme, or else as freshman hazing , 1910.
Students holding laundry bags – possibly as part of an entrepreneurial scheme, or else as freshman hazing , 1910.

The 1919-1920 College Catalogue announced the opening of the new facility: “A laundry sufficient to do all unstarched work for the students has been authorized and will be in operation at the opening of next fall. For hygienic and other reasons all students will be required to patronize this laundry. The charge will be as low as will allow for the proper conduct and care of the plant.”

Students (including future College President John W. Kuykendall, at rear) carry their "bundles" to the Laundry, 1957.
Students (including future College President John W. Kuykendall, at rear) carry their “bundles” to the Laundry, from Quips and Cranks 1957.

By the early 1960s, the College Laundry became overwhelmed by the demands of the growing student body – as enrollment rose to 1,000 students, costs and the need for new equipment rose similarly. In a December 21, 1966 letter from President Grier Martin wrote that: “we plan to meet with a cross section of the student leaders to get their feeling on laundry operations in the future. In the past, we have felt that we had alternatives to either continue the present ‘bundle’ system or go to a per piece basis for students, removing the now compulsory feature.”

Davidson College Dry Cleaning coupons, 1968.
Davidson College Dry Cleaning coupons, 1968.

This issue came up again when the College went coeducational in 1972, when the addition of female students further stressed the Laundry’s capabilities. The Special Sub-committee on Coeducation of the Student Life Committee recommended that, since “the general consensus [is] that the laundry as it stands now is not equipped to launder women’s apparel satisfactorily… no woman student shall be required to patronize the college laundry, with the possible exception of mandatory linen service [and] coin-operated washing and drying facilities be installed…” By 1980, the self-service machine charges were incorporated into the laundry fee, rather than remaining coin-operated.

"Davidson Laundry is Laundry For Students," 1972.
“Davidson Laundry is Laundry For Students,” 1972.

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, Davidson student opinion was divided – while many valued the convenience and time saved in having their laundry done by the College, a vocal group resented paying the mandatory fees and preferred a self-service, pay-as-you-use system. Petitions and letters to the editor of the Davidsonian reflected these sentiments.

A student picks up laundry, 1980.
A student picks up his laundry, 1980.

In defense of the Laundry, information pamphlets given to new students in the 1980s featured an explanation of why the College ran a laundry service: “Because we are a small college in a small town, we operate a laundry to provide a convenient, economical, time-saving service to students.”

Davidson College Laundry pamphlet, 1986 - 1987.
Davidson College Laundry pamphlet, 1986 – 1987.

In 2004, the College Laundry building was renamed the Lula Bell Houston Laundry, in honor of the retirement of laundry worker Lula Bell Houston after 57 years of service to the College. By 2011, the College Laundry saw another change – a move to recyclable canvas bags, rather than the brown paper the clean clothes had traditionally been wrapped with.

With the transition to an entirely self-service model beginning on May 15, 2015, the Lula Bell Houston Laundry building will be vacated. Current students, alumni, and community members: what do you think the Laundry building should house next?

The Honor of Your Presence: Commencement Invitations and Programs Throughout the Years

This weekend, Davidson will host its 177th commencement – congratulations, class of 2014! Commencement at Davidson has certainly changed over the years, but some things have remained constant – namely, the necessity of invitations and programs detailing the event. This week, let’s a take a look at some examples of these early college publications…

This "Order of the Exercises" from 1842 is an excellent example of what early commencement ceremonies at Davidson were like. William Lee Davidson's speech, "Thoughts of a Student on leaving College" would likely hit a chord with this year's graduates as well.
This “Order of the Exercises” from 1842 is an excellent example of what early commencement ceremonies at Davidson were like. William Lee Davidson’s speech, “Thoughts of a Student on leaving College” would likely hit a chord with this year’s graduates as well.

 

The Eumenean and Philanthropic literary societies began holding oratorical exercises at commencement in 1848, and were responsible for planning all activities until 1881. This 1853 program illustrates a typical series of events from those years.
The Eumenean and Philanthropic literary societies began holding oratorical exercises at commencement in 1848, and were responsible for planning all activities until 1881. This 1853 program illustrates a typical series of events from those years.

 

The 1870s and '80s were the golden years of commencement invitation design at Davidson, as this 1875 invitation to Misses Sallie and Mary Lafferty from the two literary societies demonstrates.
The 1870s through the 1910s were the golden years of commencement invitation design at Davidson, as this 1875 invitation to Misses Sallie and Mary Lafferty from the two literary societies demonstrates.

 

One 1876 invitation in our collections featured a bookplate of sorts, most likely used to identify the sender as Archie Dalton.
One 1876 invitation in our collections featured a bookplate of sorts, most likely used to identify the sender as Archie Dalton.

 

The 1888 commencement Order of Exercises includes a number of interesting-sounding speeches - one imagines that the average Davidson student has certainly "Learn[ed] to Labor and to Wait" by graduation!
The 1880 commencement Order of Exercises includes a number of interesting-sounding speeches – one imagines that the average Davidson student has certainly “Learn[ed] to Labor and to Wait” by graduation!
This 1884 commencement invitation features versions of the state seals of North and South Carolina, as well as some recurring themes, such as palm trees, an oil lamp, and an owl.
This 1884 commencement invitation features versions of the state seals of North and South Carolina, as well as some recurring themes, such as palm trees, an oil lamp, and an owl. This was only the second year that the list of graduating students was printed in the commencement program.

 

The literary society members in 1887 appear to have had a hard time deciding on fonts for their commencement invitations, so they chose to use all of them.
The literary society members in 1887 appear to have had a hard time deciding on fonts for Davidson’s 50th anniversary commencement invitations, so they chose to use all of them.

 

A note on the commencement invitation of 1892 notes that this was "The Class of Great Preachers" - of seventeen graduates, eleven went on to enter the ministry.
A note on the commencement invitation of 1892 refers to this as “The Class of Great Preachers” – of seventeen graduates, eleven went on to enter the ministry.

 

This elaborate commencement booklet from 1903 illustrates the Davidson graduate as he left campus for the next phase of life - The Future!
This elaborate commencement booklet from 1903 illustrates the Davidson graduate as he left campus for the next phase of life – The Future.

 

From 1912 until the late 1920s, commencement programs came in a variety of formats - including some bound in leather, as this 1912 example indicates.
From 1912 until the late 1920s, commencement programs came in a variety of formats – including some bound in leather, as this 1912 example indicates.

 

By the 1890s, fraternities on campus began to plan commencement activities separate from the literary societies. The Pan-Hellenic Council of 1913 distributed a sort of "dance card" for commencement activities - this booklet belonged to Maud Vinson, who was sponsored by John Burns Jr.
By the 1890s, fraternities on campus began to plan commencement activities separate from the literary societies. The Pan-Hellenic Council of 1913 distributed a sort of “dance card” for commencement activities – this booklet belonged to Maud Vinson, who was sponsored by John Burns Jr.

 

The interior of Miss Vinson's commencement activities booklet - Davidson gentleman would sign up to squire the female visitors to the various commencement week activities.
The interior of Miss Vinson’s commencement activities booklet – Davidson gentlemen would sign up to squire the female visitors to the various commencement week activities.

 

commencement1928001
The 1928 commencement program was one of the last to have a leather cover. This design features the columns of the Old Chambers building, left standing until 1929 after the fire that destroyed the building eight years prior.

 

The 1947 Baccalaureate Sermon, given by Professor Kenneth J. Foreman (Class of 1911) exhorted students to examine their behaviors and develop good habits now... before it's too late: "Youth is a lovely glass container with nothing in it, it is a book in which all the pages are blank, I mean the youth you have still to life, the rest of it..."
The 1947 Baccalaureate Sermon, given by Professor Kenneth J. Foreman (Class of 1911) exhorted students to examine their behaviors and develop good habits now… before it’s too late: “Youth is a lovely glass container with nothing in it, it is a book in which all the pages are blank, I mean the youth you have still to live, the rest of it…I do not need to tell you about habits and how useful good ones are and how terrible bad ones can be. What I am saying is that these next ten years are your last chance to do anything about it.”

 

Since the early 1920s, commencement invitations have maintained the same language and layout, with a few font changes, as this example from 1966 demonstrates.
Since the early 1920s, commencement invitations have maintained the same language and layout, with a few font changes, as this example from 1966 demonstrates.

 

Like commencement invitations, the cover design of the program has also remained fairly static, in this case since the late 1950s. This white-on-white embossed cover is from 1980.
Like commencement invitations, the cover design of the program has also remained fairly static, in this case since the late 1950s. This white-on-white embossed cover is from commencement 1980.

 

1987 was Davidson's sesquicentennial year, and the cover for the President's Supper evokes earlier commencement publications.
1987 was Davidson’s sesquicentennial year, and the cover for the President’s Supper evokes earlier commencement publications.

 

By the mid twentieth century, Davidson's commencement invitations included a small card with the schedule of events printed on it. This example from 1987 includes the sesquicentennial logo designed by Burkey Belser (class of 1969)
By the mid twentieth century, Davidson’s commencement invitations included a small card with the schedule of events printed on it. This example from 1987 includes the sesquicentennial logo designed by Burkey Belser (class of 1969).

 

So graduates, guests, and members of the Davidson community: as you attend commencement events this weekend, take a look at the invitations, programs, and schedules you’re being handed, and hearken back to these earlier examples of college culture!

The Twelve Days of Davidson

For this Christmas Day edition of Around the D, we offer a play on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” – The Twelve Days of Davidson, collapsed into a single post:

On the first day of Christmas

Davidson College Archives & Special Collections sent to me

12 Original Houses on Patterson Court

Patterson Court, circa 1960s
Patterson Court, circa 1960s.

11 Seniors Graduating at the First Commencement Exercises (1840)

A young E. Constantine Davidson, one of the those eleven graduates in 1840, and the diploma of Oni Davis McNeely (Class of 1840), currently on display in the Library's Davidsoniana Room
A young E. Constantine Davidson, one of the those eleven graduates in 1840, and the diploma of Oni Davis McNeely (Class of 1840), currently on display in the Library’s Davidsoniana Room.

10 Wins in the Undefeated 2000 Season for the Football Team

Excited Wildcat fans tear down the goalposts after the last game of the undefeated season; a few fans hang off the posts
Excited Wildcat fans tear down the goalposts after the last game of the undefeated season; a few fans hang off the posts (from Quips and Cranks 2001).
Those goalposts ended up in the senior apartments, as seen in this photo from Quips and Cranks 2001 - shown here with Chris Thawley, Jeff Larrimore, Rob Neuman, and William Childs (all Class of 2004).
Those goalposts ended up in the senior apartments, as seen in this photo from Quips and Cranks 2001 – shown here with Chris Thawley, Jeff Larrimore, Rob Neuman, and William Childs (all Class of 2004).

9 Decades of Wildcat Logos

Top row, left to right: 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Middle row: 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Bottom row: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Top row, left to right: 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
Middle row: 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Bottom row: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

8 Teams Left in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship when Davidson Reaches the “Elite Eight” in 2008

Davidson Men's Basketball Team in 2008
Davidson Men’s Basketball Team (from Quips and Cranks 2008).
Poster advertising a celebration of the 2008 basketball team, after March Madness
Poster advertising a celebration of the 2008 basketball team, after March Madness.

7 Cemeteries Under Lake Norman (that we know of!)

Original site of Baker Cemetery
Original site of Baker Cemetery.
Current site of Baker Cemetery, at Centre Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC
Current site of Baker Cemetery, at Centre Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC.

6 Deep South Field Hockey Championships in a Row (1990 – 1995)

Team photograph of the 1990 field hockey team, the first in the run of 6 championships
Team photograph of the 1990 field hockey team, the first in the run of 6 championships (from Quips and Cranks 1991).
1995 field hockey team, the last in the conference title run (Davidson's field hockey team currently plays in the NorPac conference, not Deep South)
1995 field hockey team, the last in the conference title run (from Quips and Cranks 1996; Davidson’s field hockey team currently plays in the NorPac conference, not Deep South)

5 Years of “Ghosts in the Library”

Posters from the first three years of Ghosts in the Library (2009 - 2011)
Posters from the first three years of Ghosts in the Library (2009 – 2011)
Posters from Ghosts in the Library, 2012 and 2013.
Posters from Ghosts in the Library, 2012 and 2013.

4 College Library Directors

Cornelia Rebekah Shaw, 1907 - 1936; Chalmers Gaston Davidson (Class of 1928), 1936 - 1975; Leland M. Park (Class of 1963), 1975 - 2006; and Gillian Gremmels, 2007 - present.
From top, left to right: Cornelia Rebekah Shaw, 1907 – 1936; Chalmers Gaston Davidson (Class of 1928), 1936 – 1975; Leland M. Park (Class of 1963), 1975 – 2006; and Gillian Gremmels, 2007 – present.

3 Students Taking One of the Earliest X-Rays (1896)

Eben Hardin, Pender Porter, and Osmond L. Barringer snuck into Dr. Henry Louis Smith's lab to X-Ray: a cadaver finger wearing a ring and stuck with two pins; magnifying glass; a pill box containing two 22 cartridges, one pin, two rings, and six Strychnine pills; and an empty egg with a button inside.
Eben Hardin, Pender Porter, and Osmond L. Barringer snuck into Dr. Henry Louis Smith’s lab to X-Ray: a cadaver finger wearing a ring and stuck with two pins; magnifying glass; a pill box containing two 22 cartridges, one pin, two rings, and six Strychnine pills; and an empty egg with a button inside.

2 Chambers Buildings

Original Chambers Building
Original Chambers Building (1860 – 1921), before the fire of November 28, 1921.
New Chambers Building, completed in 1929.
New Chambers Building, completed in 1929.

and the First Woman President at Davidson College

Dr. Quillen receives the College mace (photograph from the Davidsonian)
Dr. Quillen receives the College mace (photograph from the Davidsonian).

Happy Holidays (and a merry winter break) from Davidson College’s Archives & Special Collections!

Finals Stress: Then and Now

Today is the final day of classes for the Fall 2013 semester, and the sturm und drang of final exams and papers is evident all over campus –  E.H. Little Library is more packed with students than ever! Student stress is so apparent this time of year (and in general at Davidson) that Academic Affairs, the SGA and The Davidsonian sponsored yesterday’s “Balancing Academics and Co-Curriculars: A forum hosted by Dean Wendy Raymond.” Last week, in a presumably student-led charge to relieve finals-related stress, several anonymous, encouraging messages appeared on the brick walkways closest to the library:

Chalk messages surrounding the E.H. Little Library, 3 December 2013
Chalk messages surrounding the E.H. Little Library, 3 December 2013

 

Previous generations of Davidson students felt similarly tried by the academic rigors of the college, and expressed some of their concerns through their letters home. Henry Elias Fries (class of 1878) wrote his mother in December on 1874, saying that:

… the semiannual judgement day as Col. Martin calls it, is now at hand, & we look upon it with dread. I am reconciled to my fate; many of us are about on a par, & we feel rather feeble in the knees…

Fries’ apprehension over his exams didn’t end with the semester – he again wrote to his mother on January 3, 1875, requesting that she send his exam results as soon as possible (reports were sent to students’ parents or guardians rather than to the student himself):

The reports were sent off last night, & judging from those which were sent around here I feel rather scared, lest the remaining returns which Dr. P spoke of will be below 60… If I get through without failing I will be very glad indeed but the reports are gone & my fate is sealed. If I get through without failing please send my report as soon as possible…

Fries during his college days, and the first page of his 13 December 1874 letter to his mother
Fries during his college days, and the first page of his 13 December 1874 letter to his mother

 

Hopefully most of our modern students are not as dread-filled as young Fries, but if they are, numerous departments and organizations have put together several events to help students de-stress as they prepare for their exams. Tomorrow is Reading Day, which will include a Puppy Extravaganza in the Smith 900 Room during the common hour, a Theatre and Dance party in the Scene Shop in the Cunningham Theatre Center (RM 120) with free food from 12 PM to 1 PM, the Curry Club’s Finals Feast  in the Multicultural House’s Upstairs Lounge from 5 PM to 6 PM, a Reading Day Study Break at the Black Student Coalition House from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, the Student Government Association’s Finals Fest in the Baxter Davidson Room (Chambers) from 9 PM to 10:30 PM, and the traditional DCPC Cookie Break from 10 PM to 11 PM. The following day (Friday the 13th) there will be an Ice Cream Study Break in the Smith 900 Room beginning at 10 PM (yours truly is a backup scooper this year, so say hello if you see me there!). Additionally, Davis Cafe (in the Union) is discounting coffee to 0.99¢ until December 20th, in order to keep the Davidson community well-caffeinated throughout this trying time.

Here in the library, the staff supplies some quick, mindless study breaks starting on Reading Day, in the form of puzzles, Legos, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Heads, and games of Twister, Battleship, and Connect Four.

Tents in the 24 hours study room, Potato Heads, and various Lego creations from previous semesters
Tents in the 24 hours study room, Potato Heads, and various Lego creations from previous semesters

 

If you’re feeling stressed, stop by the library or one of the events mentioned above to give your brain a bit of a rest. As the chalked encouragements remind us all, you studied – don’t worry!